Kew the Music: Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra at Kew Gardens

Probably the UK's most famous TV-presenting pianist, Holland's talents are many and various. A man who can bang out the boogie-woogie with the best of them and also sweet talk his television guests into top class performances. He first came to prominence as a member of new-wave popsters, Squeeze, in the 1970s, playing on their major hits like Cool For Cats and Up the Junction. The band were regulars on Top Of The Pops and maybe that was where Holland first acquired a taste for the small screen. He later moved on from Squeeze to form The Jools Holland Big Band which eventually became the current Jools Holland And His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra. He has played with many notable musicians including Eric Clapton, George Harrison, David Gilmour and Robert Plant amongst them. His recording career is equally prolific, having recorded a number of best-selling albums. Later...with Jools Holland, his best known television work, started in 1992 and also the regular New Year's Eve Hootenanny programme on BBC2. Over the years many famous artists have appeared on the show, quite often accompanied by Holland and his ensemble. He was made an OBE in 2003 and was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for Kent in 2005.